*Derilos looks up from the papers he was reading, The day hadn't gone good for him...Having to read over reports a few days late was the last thing he wanted to do.* "Hmm...A patrol is missing from our Tomo post...Oh no...Dere'l has spotted...and has been defeated by The Satsuma...Just great..." *He rubbed the bridge of his nose in irritation* [color=#FF0000]"What else can go wrong..." *His double looked over to him, having being his double, he must have felt bad to just sit there and say nothing...* "Sir perhaps we should hunt it?" *Derilos looked up* "Hunt? Bahaha! The Satsuma?! Hahaha! Ah now I see why I made you my double...you keep me well entertained..." *The double put his head down and stared at the floor...He has tried to assassinate Derilos a few months ago and made him go into hiding this far out in space...and the bastard had brought his attempted killer with him.* 'how crazy is he? To chain me up and put all these gaurd around me to prevent me from leaving...might aswell have just killed me...'"What the...she only suffered minor injuries from the blast?! How? How can she have been defeated when she claims she was only hit once..." *The double looked up again* "You getting scared huh? The Satsuma is too strong for you..." *Derilos didn't even bother to look up* "Shut up fool, if the Satsuma was so strong, why didn't it just ram through her and kill her? It was so weak it had to fire at her...cannot get weaker then that...and to add insult to injury she lived...not bright those kusarians-" *A man ran into the room* "Sir! An important transmition from Amayamo Station!" *Derilos took the paper with a tired expression on his face.* "Hmm blah blah blah, We were able to sneak in...yada yada yada ya-...." *Derilos seemed to stop dead in his tracks, the double looked at him.* 'He never stopped yapping all this time...why stop?' *Even the guards noticed becuase the one standing next to derilos tried to peek at the paper* "Everyone...Amayamo station...has captured a corsair...A BENITEZ ELDER! Haha! yes! This could be useful....mortar practice anyone? ha!" *The double was simply shocked.* "..How can you?""Hmm? How can I what?""How can you use someone like that as TARGET PRACTICE?!""Simple...I just can..." *Derilos stood up* "Alert everyone" *He looked the messenger dead in the eye* "I'm headed for Amayamo Station..."
*Faust looked up from the ceiling from lieing on his bed, his caradime high winding down, his anger returning.* "*Sigh* I need more cardi..." *He pressed a comms button right next to his bed* "Davidson...need cardi...now..." *A ruffling sound as the mic was being moved around* 'Man that Davidson is clumsy...'"Hurry up now!...please..." *The microphone must have been put back or fixed or whatever because Davidson replied right away* "Right, I'm on it..." *He went back to looking at the ceiling, he wanted to escape this life and just go mad killing.* 'But if I was to have done that, I wouldn't have met derilos....and had all...this' *he looked around his room, it was greatly furnished...if it wasn't so small it could have been mistaken for a rich guy's mansion....The robot's were the bulk of the workers on the ship...intelligent things they were...but no one questioned where derilos had gotten them from...hell if you started asking a question he would look at you as if you wanted to die...but rumors were spreading that derilos was nearly assassinated and that he had kept the killer for his amusement...to make it worse the guy asked him so many damn questions...* 'Death row for that one there...' *A robot entered his room and laid a tray of cadamine on his little table, Faust got up and sat at the little thing, while the robot left the room without a word...he liked that* 'And it was derilos who found out that cardamine could curb my violent outbursts and attacks wasn't it?' *Man he did owe alot to that guy...The comms for his room blared a bit and Davidson's voice was heard.* "Captain Faust...Our boss is coming for a visit...it's about HIM...""Fine fine! Now leave me alone!"'As yes the captive in the holding cell...it's about fackin' time...'
//oorp info: Normal colors and light colors are the same person example: ( " " ) are used for talking and a normal color is used to tell who is talking. ( ' ' ) is talking and use light colors of the normal color to show who is thinking...normal green and light green is Faust talking and thinking...
*Leon was staring at one of the walls of his holding cell, but he didn't really see it.* How has it come to this? How could I have been that easy to trick? What had really happened? Im not sure anymore.
*he started to wander around inside the cell* And as if it isn't enough, that i've been captured by... Whoever it is, I have to tolerate these incompetent droids, that is walking in and out of my cell as they see fit and treats me like a child.*He stopped for a second, and then started wandering the other way around.* Will anyone be able to find me? Unlikely. They don't seem to have left a single trace behind. Will I be able to escape? As it is now I seem to be sorrounded by nothing but metallic fools, but there is no wonder, that they are going to become very hostile to me if I try to escape. And what had that last one mentioned? Something about I am valuable, and the "boss" is on his way to have a look at me.
He can have the honor of looking at my fist, when I smash it into his ugly face.
For now it seems, that I will just have to wait.
After having searched the entire sector for hours with everyone who was able and willing to help, the point came when everyone realised that Leon was gone. Every measure had been taken, but for some reason, Leons captor had evaded every attempt to localise them.
Valeria was shocked and sad. But it could be worse she figured, at least Leon was still alive and she knew it. But where was he? There was no trace left and nor was there any indication of who his captor might be or why he targetted Leon for abduction.
For all they knew, it could have been bounty hunters, outcasts, hessians.. perhaps even nomads, they are known to mess with the minds of others and rely on trickery and illusion. But the voice Valeria heard was too human, it was an actual voice, not some kind of vision or weird voice in her mind.
It was not easy to face it, but they had nothing... all that was left at Sector C4, Leon's last known position, were scattered part of what appeared to be one of those recon droids that were sent all over the system. If she brought these home to Crete, maybe the tech heads would be able to learn something of it...
**Jose had been working late; he turned toward the Comm. Console and called Valeria. Her imaged appeared on the screen**
Hi Val.
This damn collection of bits of junk you came back with is not exactly giving up its secrets easily.
I know you have already done this a dozen times but can you humour an old man one more time? Where exactly did you say you found these bits?
**Jose makes yet more notes as Valeria ran through the story again. She relates the story of how she had picked up an automatic distress call from a Benitez ship and of how she had moved to investigate calling on any and all other Benitez in the area to assist**
So what you are saying is that he has vanished? Hmm. I must admit that I find that hard to believe. Things do not just vanish. If it wasnt for your assertion that he was still alive Id be wondering why we were looking so hard!
**Jose looks up at Valerias image**
Im sorry Val. Its not your fault, Im just feeling frustrated by the lack of everything except questions.
Ill catch up with you later and if I find anything Ill let you know.
**Jose flicks the switch on the console and watches as the image of Valeria fades away**
There has got to be an answer to this. I cant accept that people and ships can just vanish.
**Jose reaches across for another blackened piece of the destroyed recon droid**
[font=Times New Roman]*Derilos Entered the station confident as ever, with the new move completed the station temporary sitting place was easy for him to enter...better then the high-end alert Gamma system...but sneaking back in would now prove harder...He looked up at his two captains on the deck overlooking the docking area. The boring and dull grey look of it all really seemed uninteresting, but atleast the rest of the ship looked much better...* "Is everything alright?" He asked. *Captain Faust seemed to scratch his head a bit and then looked back down to his boss* [color=#33FF33]"Ah everything except our prisoner.." *Derilos couldn't care less to hold his head up any longer and dropped his head level to the doorway and walked up to it.* "I see....problems with him?" *At this point faust could no longer see him so he projected his voice through the comms.* "Ah well you see he didn't want to eat so...we have to preform surgery to get food into his system..." *Derilos entered the beautiful scene with water fountains flowing inside and a luscious area of flowers surrounding the exit...yes it made him feel right at home and being in hiding for so long has caused him to really miss this place. Having to look at the dull walls might have been making him feel alot worse and possibly even more angry...He proceeded into the main lobby area and turned left to catch Lt.Davidson and Captain Faust exiting the lift.* "Let's not waste time here...Where is he?"
*Derilos entered the holding room without a word. His captive sprouting so many questions at him...his ferocity reminded him of his double...Robots entered the room and laid out a table and two chairs which took almost no space in the large room. Now that he was comfortable and feeling good...the interrogation can begin and he only now realized that the captive was talking...* "Leave us..." *The robots left them sealed in, Derilos looked up at him and removed his hood* "Who are you?!" *Derilos shook off his coat and placed it on the back of the chair* "Do you not hear me-""Silence...can you...just silence..."*The captive paced around the room probably picking out his chances for certain moves...but the poor guy was way behind on this chess game*"Worry not...you will be released soon enough...""What?"*the captive stared at his for what seemed like the longest while.* [color=#FF0000]"You heard me...you will be released in no time...please sit..." *The captive came close to the table but didn't sit.*"And I'm to believe you because..."*Derilos started pulling out some folders with papers and didn't even look up at him* "Because if you want to live to see tomorrow you will trust me no? Or we can do this the hard way..." *Taking out a pen, Derilos looked him right in the eye* "Tell me your name and what you do...corsair...."
*Lt.Davidson was on edge...their boss had never exposed himself like this before..*"What the hell is he doing?! That fool will probaby try to kill him..." *Being in the observatory they was able to watch what was happening but their boss has made sure that no one was to hear their conversation...and that just wasn't right...Faust came up next to Davidson and placed his hand on his shoulder.*"Hey man relax, we all know the boss is the only thing you care for but lets face it he does have a plan..." *Davidson turned around his face to the floor obvious hating himself for letting his boss do such a thing.* "I can only protect him when he wants me to...that isn't right..." *Davidson walked out of the observatory and headed for the bridge.* 'Poor guy...heh if it wasn't for the cardi I would be mocking him about it now...' *Faust looked over the two and had extreme confidence that the boss' plan would work...it just had to...but the majority of it was based on how this "Chat" with the corsair will go...*
[font=Arial Black]"Well Corsair? Don't make me repeat myself."
[color=#FF6600]*Leon didn't take his eyes from this man for one second. He didn't even blink* "My name, is Leon Benitez. I am a member of the Benitez family. The protectors of Crete." "And your age?" "Well that is a bit err... Complicated. I've been in a coma for quite some time, and my body didn't age meanwhile, but I was born in 777 A.S." "And for how long was you in coma?" *Leon took some time before he answered.* "Around 21 years." *The man who had been writing down everything now raised his head and faced Leon* "And what is your rank in that Benitez family?" *His voice had changed. It was almost like a loud whisper.* *Leon crossed his arms before him* "Are you so naive, that you simply assume im gonna tell you everything?" "It is I who is asking the questions" *They stared at each other for a long time before Leon slowly replied* "I am a Benitez Elder." "Aha... What ship do you fly" "I thought you already knew? Since you captured me, you most likely captured my ship as well?" "I said that it is I who asks the questions! Now what I meant was, do you fly any other types of ships? Anyone in particular?" "I... No. None." "And you are all sure about that?" *When Leon didn't answer, the man raised his eyebrows for a second and then asked,* "So what is the Benitez family's plans and goals?" "Simply to ensure the safety of Crete." "You are sure there isn't more to it?" *Leon was starting to loose his temper and his focus. This was his greatest weakness* "How dare you..? Is this some kind of quiz? Are you toying with me?" "I asked you-" "No, let me ask you something. Who-" "I am the one who asks the questions!" "Are you the-" "I WILL NOT TOLERATE YOUR QUESTIONS!" *The man had sprung up from his chair, and Leon had taken a step backwards and raised his fists, as if he had expected the man to attack him* *The man seemed to calm himself. He shaked his head* "Very well. If that is all the information you will provide me, then I shall bother you no more." *And with that he left the room. Leon stared at the door for a half minute, while the robots was sealing it from the other side.*
He'd been spending far too long examining these bits of scrap metal and circuitry and it had given him a headache
"I'm getting fed up with this and I need a break", he muttered. He sat back in his chair and surveyed the not insignificant number of coffee cups that now took up nearly as much space on his work bench as the bits of the recon droid that Valeria had managed to salvage.
Standing up, he crossed the room to look out of the window at the garden. The apple trees were in blossom which was always a pleasent sight upon which to rest weary eyes.
"We need a break with this mystery" he said. Turning his back on the window, he returned to the bench, once more surveying the bits of blackened and twisted metal that were strewn across it.
"There has got to be a pattern, or some sort of a solution to this". He picked a piece of the blackened metal up, and turned it over in his hands.
"Hmm....I wonder?". Putting the pieces back onto the bench he pressed a key on the keyboard of the computer he had been using, thereby causing the screen to come back to life revealing a complex set of diagrams showing what appeared to be circuitry. The fruits of many hours of labour and careful examination of the component parts.
"Perhaps I've been looking for the wrong thing.... Maybe, I should be trying to find out who this thing was doing recon for, rather than where it had come from or might have been going".
Rummaging through some of the other components on the work bench resulted in yet another piece of metal with some attached circuitry being scrutinised. "I think that perhaps I should be looking for the comms. circuitry.... Perhaps I can establish a direct link of some sort with the person that controlled this thing - supposing I can even find anything that looks like it might work, and what frequency it might be working on?"
Sitting back down in the chair Jose starts to type at the keyboard and to start to try and find the comms circuitry.
*Derilos walked out of the Interrogation room with a smug attitude. He wasn't sure what to do with that guy, and the fact this wasn't planned out from the beginning makes it worse. Heading for the control room he waited for the elevator to arrive. The amount of robot's operating the ship was always surprising, The fact some many can be on board and work in together...amazing...Once the elevator arrived he walked in and silently Captain Faust walked in behind him.* Faust: "So, how did it go boss?" Derilos: "Not bad...I will need sometime to figure out what to do with him...I don't want it to be easy for these sairs...after all they put us through...Go see what she has hmm? I'll need something...biological for this one..." Fuast: "Her? You sure?" Derilos: "Something armful...but not dangerous...something possibly...hmmm...I know...a virus..." Faust: "Anything more specific?" Derilos: "I want a virus created to.......I'll need to speak to her alone yes yes it'll be very nasty..." Faust: "As you wish, should I take you now?" Derilos: " No...not yet...I rather like the veiw of space on this ship..."
After only 4 hours sleep in the last 24 hours, much coffee and a not insignificant number of burns as a result of incompetence with a soldering iron, Jose pushed himself back from the table at which he had been sitting for many hours.
"I'm getting far too old for this"" he muttered. "If this thing doesn't work...." his voice trailed away into silence. If it didn't work, then what? It had to work and there was an end to it.
It had taken a not inconsiderable amount of patience and time to get to this point, and now was the moment of truth. He just hoped that the system he had reassembled was the communication circuitry, and not some other system of the little droid.
Reaching across, he connected the power supply into the recently soldered socket on the circuit board. "Right... Here goes nothing".
He flipped the power switched and then watched for any signs of smoke. "Hah! At least the damn thing didn't explode", he said.
He picked up the small microphone he'd soldered in place half an hour earlier and thumbed the switch so that it activated the microphone. "Hello.... Hello.... This is Jose Benitez.... Is there anyone there?"
Derilos walked out onto the bridge of Amayamo and looked out at the stars. It was a beautiful system they were in. One of the reasons he requested to meet up here. Derilos: "Ah simply lovely..." The stars twinkled softly and the blue color was dazzling. The Gas clouds might have been a hindrance but they still fit in very well. Faust: "Sir, how...have you been lately?" A slow smile came to Derilos' face, he spun around and faced the captain. Derilos: "Whatever could you mean?" Faust: "You know....your problem?" Derilos lifted up his hand and a large metal point-like claw was revealed. Derilos: "This?" Faust: "SIR! YOU MUST NOT!" Derilos: "Relax, the stars calm me..." Derilos turned around again and stared out of the windows. It truly was peaceful... Derilos Sighed: "If only I could stay here forever....Well, back to life..." Derilos turned around and headed out of the bridge. Derilos: "Virus options...virus options....so many options..." Faust: "Perhaps a virus to kill all other Benitez but him?" Derilos: "No, that will be too easy.....I got just the thing-" Comms speaker: "Hello.... Hello.... This is Jose Benitez.... Is there anyone there?" Derilos: "..." Communications robot [AA-13]: "Sir, we have been hacked!" Derilos turned and walked back into the bridge, he hadn't even left and now this? Communications robot[AA-13]: "Sir, we have a problem on our hands! Orders?!" Derilos calmly stood above the robot, a slow smile to his face. In a flash the robot stood up and faced Derilos, then it split in half and each side fell opposite of each other. The chair split into thousands of pieces, and now the robot did too. Derilos stepped down into the ditch where the other robots were, they showed no emotion, no fear...that was nice. Derilos clicked the communications switch and in a rather anger voice: "Well well well, to hack us? Most importantly to hack our communications through our speakers instead of our main lines? Hmm...either your really smart or really lucky...You are my new best friend hm?"